Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, at Freese Funeral Home, Tolono. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign. Military rites will be accorded. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Mr. Bagwell was born March 31, 1924, in Richland County, Ill., a son to Abner and Mattie Jenkins Bagwell. He married Charlotte Smith on June 30, 1946; she preceded him in death on Aug. 22, 1995.

Surviving are two children, Elaine (Don Schannot) Bagwell of De Soto, Mo., and Rick (Angel) Bagwell of Tellico Plains, Tenn., a daughter-in-law, Gale Bagwell of Tolono; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Mary Bagwell of Olney.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, four brothers and a son, Woodrow Bagwell.

He was drafted in the U.S. Army in February 1943 and was honorable discharged in February 1946. He received a Purple Heart in 1943 [for his injuries sustained in the Italy campaign].

He entered the UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local in Paducah, Ky., in 1947 and ended his 65 years of service from Local 149, Savoy. He was a past member of American Legion Post 24, Champaign.

Starting at a young age, he would go around and collect discarded items to build his own toys, which progressed into him building his own cars and trucks.

The youth, who is employed at Olney shoe factory, went to the bathroom at his home, 408 W. Locust street, to wash his head and cut his hand on the broken handle of the water faucet, the cut tearing a ligament in the palm of his hand. He was taken to Jackson Hospital to have the ligament tied up, and was given an anesthetic. He failed to revive from it.

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Mattie Bagwell, of Olney, one sister Mrs. Jack Davis of LaFollette, Tenn., and four brothers, Ercy Henry of Marion, Clessie Bagwell and Leland Bagwell of Olney, and Ansel Bagwell, U. S. Army, recently injured in the Italian fighting but now back with his unit in the front lines in Italy.

Funeral services for Eldo Ivan Bagwell, 16 year old son of Mrs. Mattie Bagwell, will be held at Porter-Schaub Funeral Home Sunday at 2 p. m, Rev. A. O. Jacobs will officiate.